Wire fabric.



H. .WICHMRDSON.

WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 2. 1914.

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m m m w t h H. RICHARDSON.

WIRE FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, I914.

Patented Dec. 4t, 1917".

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HENRY RICHARDSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WIRE Fann e.

eas es.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. a, fat to Applic tion filed Janu y 2, 914. Serial No. 809,854.

fabrics of the kind at present extensively used to form. the bottoms of beds, couches, and like articles of furniture.

A type of bed and couch fabric at present extensively used is characterized structurally by the presence of parallel longitudinal strands composed of interhooked bent wire units or links that are connected transversely at intervals by wire cross links. The interhooking of the ends of the links that form the longitudinal strands in this type of fabric creates a weakness in the fabric at those points of connection, owing to the liability of the free or unsecured ends of the hooks to pull or straighten out under strain. This same weakness also inheres in fabrics wherein the end portions of the wire forming each link are connected merely by interengaging hooks on said ends or by a hook on one end engaging a loop on the other, sincein all such cases there is present in the link at or intermediate its ends one'or more hooks having a free or unsecured bent portion in the direct line of longitudinal strain, the strength ofwhich to resist tensional strains is far below the breaking point of the wire itself.

The general object of my present invention is to provide a new and improved wire complish by a novel structure of link that,

in common with the type above referred to, entirely obviates the presence anywhere in a fabric of the type described of unsecured ends of loops or hooks in' aline or lines of strain.

My present invent on relat s, owire l nk fabrics of the type employing separate cross links for connecting adjacent longitudinal strands; and in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention in several slightly varied forms, and referring thereto- Figures 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 are fragmentary .top plan views of wire fabrics embodying my invention in slightly varying forms as regards the structure of the main longitudr nal links. Figs 2, 4,6, 8 and 11 are enlarged fragmentary views in bottom perspective of portions of the main longitudinal links shown in Figs 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10, respectively, and more particularly illustrate the dis osi- .tion of the extreme terminal portions 0 the wire forming each link. Fig. 9 is a detail view in top perspective of a portion of the fabric illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The novel fabric of my invention, in all of the forms illustrated, includes a plurality of links or units each composed of a single length of wire bent upon itself to provide the characteristic features, common to all of the forms shown, of a two-ply body member having closed ends, with the terminal portions of the wire tied together or otherwise interlockingly engaged with each other and having their free ends clenched to the body member, and a plurality of cross links that are flexibly connected at their ends to and between adjacent longitudinal strands.

In all the embodiments of the invention herein presented, the wire of which each main longitudinal link is composed is bent in such a manner as to provide a two-ply body or tension member 10 the limbs of which are joined at one end preferably by means of a simple U-bend or loop 11, and are joined at the other end by means of a two-ply loop 12 (Big. 9) the sides of which two-ply'loop are integrally joined across the body member. Furthermore,in all of the forms illustrated'the end portions of the wire are tied together by crossing each other in an interlocking manner between the ends of the links and in the line of one limb of the body member, and are thence extended across and clenched t0 the body member. Figs. 1 and 2. illustrate the simplest form in which this may be done, wherein 13 and 14 designaterectangular extensions of the two portions of one limb of the body member interlockingly crossing each other at their junctions with the ,body'member; the member 13 extending across one side of one. limbs of the body member and having its extreme the body member, as shown at 17, isthence extended across both limbs of the body member below the member 14, as shown at 18, and

its: extreme terminal portion 19 is clenchedto the body member alongside of and extending inthe same'direction as the terminal portion 16,-as clearly shown in Fig; 4.

In'the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the end portions of the wire are so bent as to form interengaging eyes 20 and'21, whence the wires extend in the same direction across one side of the body member, as shown at 22 and 23, and their extreme terminal portions are clenched to the body membersas shown at 24- and 25 in Fig. 6.

f In the form of'thewinvention illustrated inaFigs. 7, 8and- 9, the end portions of the wire are tied together and clenched in the same manner as-shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, but

the adjacent end portion of thebody member, beyond said junction of the wire ends, is given a half-twist, causing the two limbs of the body member to cross each other as shownat 26.

as shown at 27, and the interlocking-portions 28 and 29 of the wire below said twist exi tend across the body memberin opposite directions, the portion 29 being curled around the portion 28 in the same manner as in the forms shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and the extreme ends 30 and 31 are clenched to the body member, as shown in Fig; 11.

In all formsof the invention, the longitudinal strands of the fabric are flexibly connected by means of cross links 32. On the ends of these cross links '32 are-formed closed loops 33 that preferably interloop with the longitudinal links just inwardly of the U-bendsof the latter, and the-free ends of the loops '33yare secured against pulling out under strain by being extended across and' clenched to the body portions of the limbs as shown at 34. By reason of this formation of the cross-links greatly increased tensional strength is afforded to the fabric in a transverse or crosswise direction.

The preferred manner in which the longitudinal links or units are connected end to end in the fabric is clearly apparent from the drawings; the terminal bonds or loops 11 and 12 of endwise adjacent links being simply interlooped or carried through each other, in the manner most plainly indicated in the perspective view Fig. 9.

The described disposition of the free ends of the wire beyond the interlock has the effect not onlyof greatly increasing the tensional-strength of the fabric, but also of tying together the two limbs of-the body member of each link, thus preventinglateral spreading of said limbs under cross strains.

The crossing or twisting of the twin-limbs of the body member near one end of: the latter as suggested in Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive, is not essential to the carrying out of the invention, but is useful in the case of very light wire, since it-to a certain extcnt=reducesthe degree of strain to which the clenched terminalportions of thewire are subjected;

1. A wire link fabric, including a plurality of longitudinal links each consisting of a single length of wire bent to provide a two-ply body member and having the end portions of said wire interlockingly engaged with each other at a point intermediate the ends of said'body member, thence extending crosswise of said body member, and at their extreme ends clenched beneath the latter, said 'longitudinal. links beingfiexibly connected end to end to-formthe longitudinal strands of the fabric, and cross links flexibly connecting adjacent longitudinal strands.

2. A wire-link fabric, including a plurality of longitudinal links each consisting of a single length of wire bent to provide a two-ply bodymemberand having the end portions of said wire interloekingly engaged with each otherat a point interme diate the ends of said body member-and thence extending in opposite directions crosswise of and anchored to said body member, said longitudinal links being connected end to end to form the longitudinal strands of "the fabric, and cross-links flexibly connecting adjacent longitudinal strands.

3. As an article of manufacture, a wire fabric link consisting of a single length of wire bent 'to provide a two-ply body memher, and having the end portions of said wire interlockingly engaged with each other at a point intermediate the ends of said body member, and thence extending in opposite directions crosswise of and anchored to'said' body member.

4. As an article of manufacture, a Wire said bodymember, and at their extreme ends fabric link consisting of a singleO lgngth of secured beneath the latter. Wire bent to rovide a two-p1 0 n1ember, and havi ng the end portions bf said HENRY RICHARDSON 5 Wire interlockingiy engaged With each other Witnesses:

at a point intermediate the ends of said SAMUEL N. POND, body member, thence extended crosswise of EDMUND Gr. INGERSOLL.

- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 11'. G. 

